The Police Department has received equipment worth over four hundred thousand dollars to assist in fighting crime. A large part of the investment includes communications equipment and motorcycles to increase police response time as well as their presence within the community. This morning Minister of National Security, Jorge Espat, handed over the supplies to officers […]
The police high command today launched their five-year Belize Policing Plan at a press conference at the Raccoon Street station. The plan lays out a course of action to improve road safety, reduce drunk driving, fight crime, target drug traffickers and improve criminal investigations. Although the media had no time to peruse the document, as […]
If push ever came to shove at the border they would be the first Belizeans to be sent into harm’s way. But that, in the final analysis, is what being a soldier is all about. Ann-Marie Williams reports on what it takes to make the grade in the BDF. Ann-Marie Williams, Reporting Sixty-seven male recruits […]
While Guatemala tries to deal with the relocation of the three illegal settlements of Machaquila, Rio Blanco and Valentin Camp, as well as the recently discovered encampment at Edwards Central, the Belize Defence Force remains active in the border area as the guarantor of the nation’s territorial sovereignty. Today the man who holds the portfolio […]
He has made himself available to the press on two occasions in as many weeks. But neither in his joint appearance with Maya leaders nor alongside the Leader of the Opposition, has Prime Minister Said Musa so succinctly expressed his views on Belize’s dispute with Guatemala as he did last night. The occasion was the […]
The Belize Defense Force is celebrating its twenty-third anniversary by hosting an open day at Price Barracks in Ladyville. The event, which promises family oriented fun, starts with a parade and will include activities such as boxing and aerobatic flying. BDF Captain Raphael Martinez says that this affair is one that you can’t miss. Captain […]
He is not the Espat brother most often seen on television. That’s Mark, the Minister of Tourism, who has been basking in the glory of record visitor arrivals, great publicity and boundless investor optimism. The Espat in the spotlight today is Jorge, the minister with the toughest portfolio in Cabinet, home to a sometimes corrupt […]
The fact that emergency negotiations with Guatemala have become necessary demonstrates the wide gulf in perception that exists between both sides. The Guatemalan press, for example, constantly refers to provocative incidents in which BDF patrols are said to intimidate Guatemalan farmers inside Guatemala. Minister of National Security Jorge Espat today flatly denied the accusations. Jorge […]
They are often regarded as second class citizens in the law enforcement community; officers who are empowered to stop crimes but more often wind up giving directions to befuddled visitors. But as their numbers grow, so too does the stature of the tourism police. Ann-Marie Williams reports on the latest class of recruits. Ann-Marie Williams, […]
A historical event took place today as the fourth Belizean to ever assume the post of commandant of the Belize Defence Force was sworn in. Brigadier General Robert Garcia surrendered the post after serving twenty-years in the army, to Brigadier General Cedric Borland. Jose Sanchez, Reporting Today’s ceremony at the Price Barracks saw the retirement […]
There is no shortage of crime these days and to help combat and prevent it, the police department has welcomed some new muscle. The seventy-three men and five women who make up recruit squad number seventy-three, survived twenty weeks of intensive training which included criminal law, evidence, traffic and community policing. Minister of National Security, […]
Belize and Guatemala are supposed to be engaging in confidence building measures along the common border, but a release from the Ministry of National Security indicate that illegal incursions by Guatemalan settlers are as prevalent as ever. In August a BDF patrol encountered an illegal farming settlement one kilometre inside Belize’s Chiquibul National Park. The […]
The Belize Defence Force will soon have a new commanding officer. A release from the Ministry of National Security today announced that Brigadier General Robert Garcia will be stepping down as commandant to be replaced by Colonel Cedric Borland. Garcia joined the BDF in 1980 and has led the force for the last three years. […]
When an anxious viewer called this morning to report that a Guatemalan warship had just docked at the Fort George, I must admit that we were a bit skeptical. But after arriving at the scene there could be no doubt. The question was, what on earth was it doing here? News Five’s Jose Sanchez found […]
Today a new building was dedicated in Belmopan that both the donor and recipient hope will help curb crime. The Joint Intelligence Coordinating Centre will be the place where police focus their intelligence gathering efforts, aiming specifically at drug and arms trafficking, alien smuggling and other activities of particular interest to the United States of […]
Problems at the prison have been at the forefront of this newscast for more nights than we care to count…and tonight is no exception. The only difference is that in this instance officials are taking actions which they hope will prevent problems in the future. Jacqueline Woods, Reporting Two years ago there were just over […]
Almost every year since 1992 News Five has marched along with the BDF volunteer battalion as it sweated through its annual training camp. This year is no exception, although it will be the first time that the story will be without the presence of Volunteer Commander Francis Usher. Usher has been succeeded by Lieutenant Colonel […]
For the first time in recent memory Belizean lawyers, magistrates, members of the police department and other representatives of the justice system met under the theme, “Prosecution: The Way Forward”. The seminar’s main objectives were to promote collaboration between the different parts of the legal framework as well as to cultivate links with international partners. […]
His name has been linked to BDF volunteer corps for the past 22 years but now that’s about to change. That’s right, Francis Usher, commander of the Volunteer Battalion today handed over control to Lt. Colonel Edmund Zuniga. The change of command ceremony took place this morning at the Fairweather and Salamanca Camps in the […]
The Police Department has been taking a few licks the last few weeks, but it appears they are trying to improve their image in the eyes of the public. A number of police officers are presently undergoing several training courses including a few on human rights, both at home and abroad. The courses promise to […]
Meanwhile, the Police Department is celebrating its largest class of recruits. For the first time, over 80 men and women have survived boot camp and signed on to protect and serve the Belizean community. Now the brave souls are set to participate in a 20-week training programme which is guaranteed to at least get them […]
If it sometimes seems that the Police Department receives more charitable donations than the Salvation Army, Red Cross and Children’s Home combined, it’s because it’s probably true. This morning Eastern Division headquarters on Queen Street was the venue for yet another handout…and while motorcycles do not have the same status as double cab pickups, the […]
When the operation known as New Horizons 2000 decamped from the Stann Creek District it left more than just newly constructed schools and freshly dug wells. It also left behind one of the most sophisticated weapons in the United States anti-drug arsenal. The Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion is a four engine propeller driven aircraft loaded […]
They came, they worked hard and soon they’ll be gone but New Horizons 2000 will not be forgotten by thousands who will benefit from their labours. Reserve officers of the Louisiana National Guard have been in Belize for the past 4 months digging wells and building schools in the Stann Creek District. At the project’s […]
When he appeared last month on “One on One” he hinted that there were too many weapons in the compound and something would soon be done. Today Prison Governor Bernard Adolphus made good on that pledge and the results were impressive. Bernard Adolphus, Governor of Prisons “Because of the number of incidents which were happening, […]
